Apparatus for baling scrap metal



June 4, 1957 A. w. BEECHER El AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR BALING SCRAP METAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10. 1953 k m w W.

HkGER ON w BEECH ER y dome NjET'O June 4, 957 A. w. BEECHER El AL 2,794,386

APPARATUS FOR BALING SCRAP METAL Filed Dec. 10. 1955 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/11x1.

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APPARATUS FOR BALING SCRAP METAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1953 INVENTOR.

HUEERNON W-BEECHER Aomo NiE-ro ATTOR/VB.

June 4, 1957 w. BEECHER El AL 2,794,386

APPARATUS FOR BALING SCRAP METAL Filed D60. 10. 1953 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

A GEfENON WBEECHER BY Qowo NIET'o United States Patent APPARATUS FOR BALING SCRAP METAL Algernon W. Beecher, Long Beach, and Julio Nieto, San

Pedro, Calif., assignors to National Metal & Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, Califi, a corporation of Maryland Application December 10, 1953, Serial No. 397,317

6 Claims. (Cl. 100-218) This invention relates generally to presses and more particularly is concerned with presses for baling scrap metal.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide the bale ejecting ram of such a press with a tiltable head operative to laterally discharge the bale over the side of the chamber in which it is formed.

Another object of the present invention is to mount such a ram head through the medium of a pin and slot connection so as to assure movement of the same freely through the chamber in which the bale is formed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that said invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and general arrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the following specification, as shown in the accompanying drawing and as fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of one end of a baling press embodying the present invention; 2

Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevational view of the portion of the baling press shown in Figure 1 arranged for forming a maximum size of bale, part thereof being shown in section; a

Figure 2a is an elevational view of a portion of the press shown in Figure 2 modified to form a smaller size of bale;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the baling press 7 astshown in Figure 2 certain parts thereof being shown inttransverse section;

Figure 4 is an elevational view partly in section, showing, the novel ram of the present invention, the head thereof being shown in three difierent positions;

Figurej is a vertical sectional view through the head of the ram shown in Figure 4;

Figure 61's a View similar to Figure 4 but showing the head ofthe ram in its normal position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view as taken along the line .77 of Figure 6; V

Figure '8 is a sectional view as taken along 'line 8-8 of "Figure 6; V

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure but showing in broken lines a larger size of platen fitted on the head of the ram;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the baling pressas shown in Figures 2 and 3, arranged for forming the maximum ,size of bale;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the arrangement shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the baling P e s 'as ho n "in Figur 2a, a ange r mmi g a smaller size bale; and

Figure 13 is the same as Figure 11 but is a view of the arrangement shown in Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 10 and 11, the press of the present invention comprises a frame structure, designated generally by the numeral 10, affording a chamber 11 in which scrap metal may be placed for the purpose of being pressed into a bale or briquette 12 of predetermined size and shape. The chamber 11 is formed by a horizontally disposed floor member 13 and a plurality of vertically disposed members 14, 15, 16 and 17, the chamber being thus provided with a top opening 18 which is adapted to be closed by a horizontally shiftable top closure member 19.

The horizontal floor member 13 and the vertically disposed members 14, '15 and 16 are relatively fixed in position, while the member 17 which forms the front end wall of the chamber constitutes the head of a horizontally reciprocable ram the position of which relative to the rear end wall 14 is adjustable by movement thereof fore and aft in the length of the chamber between the sidewall members 15 and 16. Adjacent the rear corner of the chamber '11 there is provided a second horizontally reciprocable ram head 26 which may be considered a movable part of the sidewall member 16, its position relative to the sidewall member 15 being adjustable by movement thereof transversely across the width of the chamber between the fore and aft end wall members 14 and 17.

It will be understood that the top closure member 19 and the ram heads 17 and 20 are fluid-pressure-actuated and that the press is provided with suitable means for controlling their horizontal shifting movement as desired. .Conventionally, scrap metal is placed in the chamber 11, and the top closure member 19 is shifted toward the rear end wall member 14 to close the chamber 11 whereupon the ram head 17 is moved to a predetermined distance from the rear end wall member 14 in order to re duce the efiective length of the chamber 11 and so com- ;press the scrap metal between the front and rear end walls of the press. The ram head 20 is then moved transversely to a predetermined distance from the sidewall member 15 in order to reduce the efiective width of the chamber 11 and so compress the scrap metal transversely of the press to thereby form the bale or briquette 12 in the far corner of the press formed'between the rear end wall member 14 and the side wall member 15. Finally, the top closure '19 is shifted back to its original position, whereupon the bale 12 is ready for removal from the chamber 11. The final size of the chamber 11 may be reduced to produce bales that are smaller, as will appearhereinafter.

For removing the bale 12 from the chamber 11 there is provided .a vertically extending ram 21 in the corner of the chamber 11 where the bale 12 is formed. The ram 21 is conventionally arranged for actuation by any suitable fluid pressure means, such as a fiuid pressure cylinder 22. It will be noted that the upper end of the ram 21 is provided with a head 23 mounting a bale engaging-platen 24 which may be considered a movable part or" the floor'13.

For mounting the head 23 on the ram 21 there is threaded on the latter a bifurcated fitting 25 the furcations 2626 of which present upwardly and snugly re ceive therebetween the central rib 27 which is formed as an integral depending part of the bale-extending head 23. A pivot pin 23 is projected through alined apertures in the furcations 26-2 6 and the rib 27 and is convenzontal positions. wardly to conclude the non-working stroke causes the tionaily secured against axial displacement as by cotter pins 2929. Referring particularly to Figure 6, it will be observed that the aforementioned aperture in the rib 27 is preferably in the form of an elongated slot 30. Normally the platen 24 is disposed, as shown in a horizontal plane, with the slot 31} extending laterally of the pivot pin 28 and toward the discharge side of the head 23, i. e., the side of the latter proximate the rear end wall member 14 of the chamber 11. However, means are provided for rocking the head 23 in one direction as the end of the working stroke of the ram 21 is approached so as to tilt the platen 24 to laterally discharge the bale 12 carried thereby, and for rocking the head 23 in the opposite direction at the beginning of the nonworking stroke of the ram 21 to return the platen 24 to its normal horizontal position.

The aforementioned tilting movement is effected by arresting the vertical movement at one side of the head 23 before the working stroke of the ram 21 is completed. As

most clearly appears in Figure 4, this arresting means includes a somewhat flexible rod 31 which depends from the head 23 and extends freely through a plate member 32 positioned horizontally at the upper end of the cylinder 22. For securing the rod 31 to the head 23, the rib 27 is provided with a bifurcated end portion the furcations 3333 of which snugly receive therebetween the fiattened upper terminal portion 34 of the rod 31. A pivot pin 35 is projected through alined apertures in the furcations 33-33 and the flattened rod portion 34 and is conventionally secured against axial displacement as by cotter pins 36-36. For limiting upward vertical movement of the rod 31 and of the discharge side of the head 23 the lower terminal portion of the rod 31 is provided with a member 37 the upwardly presenting surface of which affords a seat for a coil spring 38 which embraces the rod 31 and which carries a washer 39 adapted to serve as a spring seat and to engage the plate 32. The lower end of the rod 31 and the parts 37, 3S and 39 carried thereby extend freely below the plate 32.

For effec ing the aforementioned return of the platen 24 to the normal horizontal position thereof wherein the undersurface of the head 23 is seated upon the upper terminal portion of the fitting 25, there are provided means for biasing the same to the desired end. The biasing means include a coil tension spring 40 the opposite end portions of which are anchored respectively to the fitting 25 as at 41 and a side of the head 23, being thereby normally positioned along a line extending upwardly and away from the base of the fitting 25.

In the operation of the ram 21 for removing from the chamber 11 a bale 12 formed as hereinbefore described,

the ram 21 is initially extended upwardly from the posi-.

tion thereof shown in Figures 2, 3 and 11 to within a short distance from the top of the chamber 11. The rod 31, of course, follows the ram 21 and is drawn upwardly through the plate member 32. As the end of the aforementioned initial movement is approached, the washer 39 engages the plate member 32, the spring 38 is compressed and any further upward movement of the discharge side of the head 23 is thereby eflectively arrested. Continued extension of the ram 21 upwardly to conclude the working stroke causes thehead 23 and the platen 24 to rock about the pivot pin 23, against the resistance of the spring 40, to the tilted position shown in Figures 2 and 9, whereupon the bale 12 is propelled laterally over the rear wall 14 of the chamber 11.

Now the ram 21 is retracted to return the head 23 and platen 24 to their initial positions in which the latter serves as a part of the floor of the chamber 11. During the initial movement downward of the ram 21 the spring 44) is effective to rock the head 23 and the platen 24 about the pivot pin 28 so as to return them to their hori- Further retraction of the ram 21 downhead 23 and the platen 24 to be lowered in their horiand 39 carried thereby being freely lowered from the broken line position to the full line position thereof shown in Figure 2. Of course, as the parts just mentioned move downwardly away from the plate 32, the spring 38 is extended.

It will be understood that the head 23 and the platen 24 are normally centered over the ram 21, and to assure movement of the platen 24 freely through the chamber 11 clearance is provided as desired all around the platen 24. In the event that a piece of the material being pressed into bales lodges between the end wallmember 14 and the platen 24 and tends to interfere with free movement of the platen 24 upwardly through the chamber 11, the head 23 and the platen 24 are free to shift away from the end wall member 14 by reason of the pin and slot connection between the head 23 and the fitting 25, thus preventing any tendency of the mechanism to jam.

This pin and slot connection is also effective to free the platen l4 and the compressed bale supported thereby from any frictional interference which may be engendered by contact of the platen or of the compressed bale with the end wall 14 of the chamber during extrusion of the bale from the press.

Figures 2a, 12 and 13 show the baling press modified for the formation of a compressed bale 12' of relatively small size. This modification is preferably effected by internally fitting the chamber 11 of the press with auxiliary wall plates, such as those designated 43, 44, 45 and 46 to reduce the horizontal dimensions of the compressed bale, and with an auxilliary floor member 47, for reducing the vertical dimension of the bale.

It will beunderstood, of course, that these vertically disposed auxiliary wall plates and the horizontally disposed auxiliary floor plate may be disposed in any desired suitable relation with respect to the primary wall and floor plates of the chamber 11 to produce any desired threedimensional size of bale within the capacity of the bailing press. Thus, the baling press may be designed to produce, without the use of any auxiliary wall and bottom members, a bale which measures 12" square in horizontal section and 18" in its vertical dimension. Such a bale would be that designated by the reference number 12 in Figure 3 and would be produced in the apparatus as shown in Figures 2, 3, l0 and 11. For the production of such a maximum size of bale, the fluid pressure actuated front end wall ram head 17 would have a travel lengthwise of the chamber 11 to a point just 12" from the rear end wall 14 thereof, while the laterally shiftable fluid pressure actuated ram head 20 would travel transversely of the chamber 11 to a point just 12" from the sidewall 15. The bale extruding platen 24 would be disposed flush with the floor 13 of the chamber 11 at a level 18 below the closed top of the chamber 11.

Should it be desired to form a compressed bale of smaller size, as, for example, one which measures 6" square in horizontal section and 12" in its vertical dimension, then the ram head 17 would be replaced by a ram head 17, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the lower end of which would shift alongthe upper surface of an auxiliary floor member 47 disposed at a level spaced 12" from the top cover of the chamber 11. Also, the ram head 17' would be fitted with an auxiliary platen 46 of an effective thickness of 3", while the end wall 14 of the chamber 11 would be fitted with the auxiliary member 43, the inner surface of which is also spaced 3" inwardly of the inner surface of the primary wall 14. Thus, upon travel of the ram head 17 lengthwise of the chamber 11 to the limit of its permissible travel, it will form between the surface of its auxiliary platen 46 and the surface of the auxiliary member 43, a bale measuring 6" lengthwise of the chamber 11.

The laterally shiftable ram head 20 of Figures 3 and 10, which is of a size designed to produce the 12" square bale above described, is also replaced by a smaller ram Bearish head 20, which in turn is fitted with an auxiliary platen 48 of an efiective thickness corresponding to the lateral displacement of the auxiliary wall member 44 inwardly from the primary Wall of the chamber, so that upon traverse inward travel of the fluid pressure actuated platen the bale will be compressed to the 6" square size in horizontal section, as shown in Figure 12.

In the production of this small size of bale, namely, 6" x 6" x 12", the bale extruding platen 23 is fitted with an auxiliary platen 49 and is initially positioned, as shown in Figures 2a and 13 with the upper surface of the platen 49 flush with that of the auxiliary floor 47, which latter is located as hereinbefore mentioned at the level required to produce a bale measuring 12" in its vertical dimension. After the bale, such as that designated 12' (see Figure 2a) has been formed, the extruding platen 23 is fluid pressure actuated to vertically shift the formed bale out of the chamber 11. As the bale extruding platen approaches the upper limit of its travel, it tilts as hereinbefore described to project the former bale laterally across the rear end wall of the chamber.

It will be understood, of course, that apparatus of the present invention may be constructed of any capacity to form bales of any predetermined sizes and that the walls of the baling chamber may be modified as desired to vary the sizes of the bale compressed in a given baling press. The essence of the invention, of course, resides in the provision in such a press of a vertically shiftable extruding platen which is automatically tiltable, as hereinbefore described, to eject the formed compressed bale from the compressing chamber after the top cover member has been retracted. In baling apparatus constructed prior to the present invention, the top cover member is employed as the means for delivering the compressed bale or briquette from the baling press, to effect which the top cover member, after being first withdrawn into retracted position to permit the bale to be raised vertically out of the compressing chamber, is then shifted forwardly under fluid pressure to push the bale laterally of the extruding head upon which it is supported. The present invention eliminates the use of the top cover member as a pusher for delivering the extruded bale laterally from the baling press. Thus, in the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the top cover plate is reciprocated only once for each bale or briquette formed in the baling press and upon retraction of the cover plate following completion of a baling operation, the compressed bale is raised out of and automatically ejected laterally from the baling chamber by operation of the extruding head itself.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a baling press, in combination, a chamber having a bale discharge opening in the top thereof defined by upright side walls of the chamber, means for pressing into the form of a bale material placed in said chamber, and a vertically extending ram beneath said chamber including a normally horizontally extending bale carrying head at the bottom of the chamber, a chamber wall adjoining one side of said ram head, said ram being extensile on its working stroke for raising said ram head and thereby ejecting the bale from said chamber through said discharge opening, said ram head being secured to said ram by a horizontally extending pin carried by the latter and projecting into a slot formed in said ram head said slot extending laterally from said pin horizontally toward one side of said ram head to provide for shifting movement of said ram head on said pin away from the chamber wall adjoining said one ram head side, whereby to provide against jamming of material between said one ram head side and the adjoining chamber wall, said pin being normally engaged with the end of said slot remote from said one ram head side to secure said ram head against shifting movement toward said adjoining wall, and mechanism for automatically rocking said ram head about said pin from its normal bale carrying position to a tilted bale discharging position during said working stroke and then back again to its normal position during the non-working stroke, whereby a bale formed in said chamber and resting on said ram head may be shifted clear of the press by discharge thereof laterally over said one ram head side and the adjoining chamber wall as the ram approaches its fully extended position and the head thereof is tilted in the manner aforesaid.

2. A baling press as defined in claim 1 wherein the mechanism for rocking the ram head includes an elongated member depending from the one ram head side for movement therewith and operating to yieldingly interrupting upward translatory movement of said ram head before the Working stroke of said ram is completed, and a tension spring operatively intervening said ram head and ram for constantly biasing said ram head toward its normal bale carrying position.

3. In a baling press, in combination, a chamber having a bale discharge opening in the top thereof defined by upright side walls of the chamber, means for pressing into the form of a bale material placed in said chamber, and a vertically extending ram beneath said chamber including a normally horizontally extending bale carrying head at the bottom of the chamber, said ram being extensile on its working stroke for raising said ram head and thereby ejecting a bale from said chamber through said discharge opening, means connecting said ram head and ram for pivotal movement of said ram head about a horizontal axis and for shifting movement of said ram head laterally of said ram away from one of the chamber walls, whereby to provide against jamming of material between said ram head and said one chamber Wall, and mechanism for automatically rocking said ram head from its normal bale carrying position to a tilted bale discharging position during said working stroke and then back again to its normal position during the non-working stroke, whereby said ram is adapted to shift a bale clear of the press by discharge thereof laterally over said one chamber wall as the ram approaches its fully extended position and the head thereof is tilted in the manner aforesaid.

4. A baling press as defined in claim 3 wherein the mechanism for rocking the ram head includes means for constantly biasing said ram head toward its normal bale carrying position, and a member connected to the ram head for movement therewith and operating against the influence of said biasing means to interrupt upward translatory movement of said ram head before the working stroke of said ram is completed.

5. A baling press as defined in claim 3 wherein the mechanism for rocking the ram head includes a tension spring operatively intervening said ram head and ram for constantly biasing said ram head toward its normal bale carrying position, and an elongated member depending from said ram head for movement therewith and operating against the influence of said tension spring to yieldingly interrupt upward translatory movement of said ram head before the working stroke of said ram is completed.

64A baling press as defined in claim 3 wherein the mechanism for rocking the ram head includes a tension spring operatively intervening said ram head and ram for constantly biasing said ram head toward its normal bale carrying position, a rod depending from said ram head for movement therewith, a compression spring mounted on the lower end of said rod for movement therewith, and stationary means intervening said ram head 7 and compression spring and disposed in the path of movernent'of the latter whereby as said ram approaches the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shelly T July 5,1910 Lopez May 13, 1930 Iacobsen et a1 June 24, 1930 Troy 1 Feb. 2, 1932 Pryor et a1. -Q. Aug. 15, 1944 

